Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
Selected items from the media, our in box and other LA Observed sources. Posted occasionally — often in the morning.
The Supreme Court said today it would hear a major challenge to California's public unions and decide whether they may charge fees to non-members to support collective bargaining. LAT
Students at three local schools lost experiments in the failure of a SpaceX rocket to successfully launch. AP
Turf Terminators has gotten rich turning lawns into gravel, with subsidies from MWD and DWP. But is it creating blight? LA Weekly
The Supreme Court upheld Arizona's redistricting by independent commission, and Cathleen Decker says that's good news for Republicans in California. KQED, Capitol Weekly, LAT
The state Senate passed a bill to do away the personal belief exemption from vaccination for children to attend public schools. AP
DA Jackie Lacey created a $1 million conviction review unit to look for cases of wrongful conviction. LAT, KPCC
Former Deputy Mayor Eileen Decker was sworn in Monday as the U.S. attorney for the Los Angeles area, which in the jargon is the central district of California. LAT
The City Council won't have Bernard Parks to kick around any more. LA Weekly
Parks and LaBonge, on their way out, are a contrast in styles. LAT
In his final day on the Los Angeles City Council, colleagues are expected today to designate the intersection of Tracy and St. George streets in front of John Marshall High School in Los Feliz as Tom LaBonge Square for his contributions to his alma mater. City News Service
Incoming City Councilman David Ryu took a ceremonial oath on Sunday from former Supervisor Yvonne Burke with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Council President Herb Wesson and former supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky in attendance.
City Hall doesn't really know which sidewalks need fixing, and when complains have come in, fewer than 40% have been repaired. LAT
Lawsuits over California water rights are a fight a century in the making. LAT
"All Things Considered" senior host Melissa Block is moving to special correspondent status at NPR: "Melissa will produce richly reported profiles of figures at the forefront of thought and culture, as well as long-form stories and series on the critical issues of our day. Her reporting will span both domestic and international news. In addition, Melissa will guest host NPR news programs, and will work to develop podcasts based on her reporting." She gives up the chair August 14. NPR, Poynter
Arianna Huffington may be the Internet’s most improbable media pioneer. This is her first job as an editor or publisher, and few would describe her as a techie. NYT Magazine
To work at The Huffington Post is to run a race without a finish line, at a clip that is forever quickening. The pace is stressful for many employees, who describe a newsroom with plenty of turnover. One former staff member I spoke with, who developed an ulcer while working there, called The Huffington Post ‘‘a jury-rigged, discombobulated chaos machine….
Today, The Huffington Post employs an armada of young editors, writers and video producers: 850 in all, many toiling at an exhausting pace. It publishes 13 editions across the globe, including sites in India, Germany and Brazil. Its properties collectively push out about 1,900 posts per day.
Book review: "Water to the Angels: William Mulholland, His Monumental Aqueduct, and the Rise of Los Angeles," by Les Standiford. Reviewed by Josh Stephens. LARB
S. Irene Virbila of the LA Times is the latest food and restaurant writer/critic to add her photo to the Twitter profile.
Philip Anschutz wants to turn his 500-square-mile Wyoming cattle ranch into the world’s largest wind farm. Pacific Standard
Ku Klux Klan propaganda fliers showed up on lawns Sunday morning on a west Whittier street. LANG, KPCC
The pond in the nature preserve on the former Chatsworth Reservoir is nearly dry. DN
The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission opened a new 90-bed shelter on Canby Avenue in Northridge. DN
Thank to ultra hi-def video, a view from space so clear you can see the cars moving. The Atlantic
The LA Kings terminated the longterm contract of center Mike Richards, citing some unspecified breach of his contract. Canadian media sources hint at some kind of border incident. TSN
Editorial #cartoon of the day: #drought #therealworry #noalmonds? By Monte Wolverton: http://t.co/F8k7auH9IP pic.twitter.com/pC7lp8XQWQ
— SoCalOpinion (@SoCalOpinion) June 29, 2015
Look at the Equatorial Pacific, Gulf of Alaska, Arctic Ocean: this is what a strong El Niño looks like. pic.twitter.com/swumagsJgP
— Peter Gleick (@PeterGleick) June 12, 2015.@ABC chief meteorologist @Ginger_Zee announces pregnancy http://t.co/dkiTjV0CjJ pic.twitter.com/dA0EBga8rR
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 29, 2015110 years ago today, Archie 'Moonlight' Graham played in his only big league game. http://t.co/Nwwlc9bZji pic.twitter.com/khPO60XFsY
— Kevin Roderick (@LAObserved) June 29, 2015